Mr Heinrich became only the second Clare Rotarian to receive a Sapphire Pin to his Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his decades of service to both the Rotary club and the local community.

The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow recognition is the Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for founder Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.

Past president Peter Jackson, who presented the award in the absence of current president Barrie Smith due to illness, said Mr Heinrich and his company had provided many hours of service and the use of their equipment.

For many years they had transported the club’s recycled newspapers to Adelaide.

Auburn tourism operator and caterer Graham Richards was inducted as the new president of the Rotary Club of Clare by past president Prue Maitland.

Mr Richards said while he held no clear view on projects he would like to see undertaken with discretionary funding, areas of focus may include mental health, single parenting and aged care.

Outgoing president Barrie Smith’s written report celebrated a successful year for the club which included the wine project in conjunction with O’Leary Walker Wines, the annual art exhibition, newspaper recycling and the senior citizens luncheon.

He applauded the success of Clare’s first Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program. The club helped host an Iraqi agricultural delegation at a barbecue in Clare and also a Group Study Exchange from Korea.

Five new Rotarians were welcomed during the year – Abraham Francis, Glenn Waldhuter, Patricia Jacka, Joseph Dames and Bert Palmer.

Mr Smith said he had enjoyed his three years of involvement at Rotary International’s Donations In Kind project, which had sent 22 40-foot containers to disadvantaged countries in the past year.